Chrysanthemum plant named `Tijuana Sunset`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named `Tijuana Sunset`, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; medium-size daisy spray-type inflorescences that are 7.9 to 8.3 cm in diameter; attractive red and yellow bi-colored ray florets and bright yellow disc florets; and very good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining good substance and color for about three weeks in an interior environment.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora andreferred to by the cultivar name `Tijuana Sunset`.

The new cultivar is a product of a mutation induction breeding programconducted by the inventor in Fort Myers, Fla., and Salinas, Calif. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new Chrysanthemumcultivars having inflorescences with desirable inflorescence forms andfloret colors and good post-production longevity.

The new cultivar originated by exposing 75 unrooted cuttings of theChrysanthemum cultivar `Tijuana` (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.9,083) to a radiation level of 1,500 rads in March, 1993, in Fort Myers,Fla. Following the radiation treatment, the cuttings were rooted andterminal apices were removed (pinched) three times to promote lateralbranch development. After lateral branches from the third pinch reachedsufficient size, 504 terminal cuttings were harvested, planted andflowered in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. The cultivarTijuana Sunset was discovered and selected by the inventor as a singleflowering plant within this population in January, 1994. The selectionof this plant was based on its desirable inflorescence form and floretcolors and good post-production longevity.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Salinas, Calif., has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

The cultivar `Tijuana Sunset` has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Tijuana Sunset`. These characteristicsin combination distinguish `Tijuana Sunset` as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Upright and mounded plant habit.

2. Medium-size daisy spray-type inflorescences that are 7.9 to 8.3 l cmin diameter.

3. Attractive red and yellow bi-colored ray florets and bright yellowdisc florets.

4. Very good postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaininggood substance and color for about three weeks in an interiorenvironment.

The new Chrysanthemum differs from the its parent, the Chrysanthemumcultivar `Tijuana`, in ray floret color as plants of the cultivar`Tijuana` have white and purple bi-colored ray florets. In all otherplant and inflorescence characteristics, plants of the new Chrysanthemumand the cultivar Tijuana are similar.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproduction of this type. The photographcomprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of`Tijuana Sunset`, Floret and foliage colors in the photograph may differfrom the actual colors due to light reflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observation andmeasurements describe plants grown in Leaminton, Ontario, Canada, undergreenhouse conditions which approximate thse generally used incommercial potted chrysanthemum production. Four unrooted cuttings weredirectly stuck in a 15-cm container. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages for a minimum of four typical flowering containers.

Botanical classification: Dendranthema grandiflora cultivar `TijuanaSunset`.

Commercial classification: Daisy spray-type pot Chrysanthemum.

Parentage: Induced mutation of Dendranthema grandiflora cultivar`Tijuana` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,083).

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to rooting.--Seven to ten days with soil temperatures of 21C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, Fibrous and well-branched.

PLANT DESCRIPTION:

Appearance.--Perennial herbaceous daisy spray-type pot Chrysanthemum.Upright, mounded habit and freely branching. Four to five lateralbranches develop after removal of terminal apex (pinching).

Plant height.--25 to 30 cm.

Foliage description.--Leaf arrangement: Alternate. Leaf size, fullyexpanded: Length: About 7.75 cm. Width: About 5 cm. Leaf apex:Cuspidate. Leaf base: Attenuate. Leaf margin: Palmately lobed, lobesconverging. Leaf texture: Abaxial and adaxial surfaces slightlypubescent. Veins prominent on abaxial surface. Color: Young foliageadaxial surface: 147A. Young foliage abaxial surface: 147B. Maturefoliage adaxial surface: 147A. Mature foliage abaxial surface: 147B.Venation adaxial surface: 147B. Venation abaxial surface: 147B.

Inflorescence description:

Appearance.--Single daisy-type inflorescence form with red and yellowbi-colored ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals above foliage,arising from leaf axils. Disk and ray florets arranged acropetally on acapitulum.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plants flower in theautumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year,inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditoins (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plantsexposed to 1.5 to 2 weeks of long day/short night conditions afterplanting followed by photoinductive short day/long night conditionsflower about 51 to 54 days later.

Postproduction longevity.--In an interior environment, inflorescences ofcut flowering stems will maintain good color and substance for aboutthree weeks in an interior environment.

Quantity of inflorescences.--Freely flowering about 5 inflorescences perflowering lateral stem, or 20 to 25 inflorescences per plant.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: 7.9 to 8.3 cm. Depth (height): About 1cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.9 cm.

Ray florets.--Shape: Narrowly oblong, straight, very short corolla tube.Size: Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Apex: Obtuse. Margin:Entire. Texture: Ribbed, smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Flat. Orientation:Positioned 10° to perpendicular to the peduncle. Number of ray floretsper inflorescence: About 26. Color: Adaxial surface: Apex: 46A.Mid-section: 13C with streaks of 46A. Base: 13C. Abaxial surface: 13Coverlaid with 42B.

Disc florets.--Shape: Tubular. Size: Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 1mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 210. Color:Immature: 154A. Mature: Apex: 14B. Base: 154A.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Flexible, angled about 45° to the stem. Length: Firstpeduncle: About 3.5 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 7.5 cm. Texture:Pubescent. Color: 143A.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anthercolor: 14B. Pollen: Moderate, 14B in color. Gynoecium: Present on bothray and disc florets.

Disease resistance: No known Chrysanthemum diseases observed to date onplants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed `Tijuana Sunset`, as illustrated and described.